Oxygen breathing apparatus



June 2l., 1955 A, lB, BORNSTEN 2,711,170

OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1954 ATTORNEY BY\ Qw N UnitedStates Patent C had OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS Alfred B. Bernstein,Silver Spring,` Md. Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,137 8Claims. (Cl. 12S-203) This invention relates to an oxygen breathingapparatus and more particularly to a respiratory device which isdesigned to be used by a person to obtain an` adequate supply of oxygenat all altitudes at substantially constant pressure and constant volume,with a substantially constant proportion of oxygen to inert gases. K

It is the object of the present invention to provide a rugged apparatusof simple construction which may be used at high altitudes as well as atsea level for the purpose of furnishing a person with a sutlieientamount of life-sustaining oxygen without waste thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automaticallyoperating respiratory apparatus which is controlled by the breathingcycle of a person, and which automatically provides a measured minorproportion of oxygen at each breath inhalation in conjunction with amajor proportion of previously exhaled breath, part of the latter ofwhich is eliminated from the apparatus to accommodate the necessaryaddition of fresh oxygen.

It is another object of the invention to provide for the adjustment ofthe lung capacity of diiferent users,

and to vary, within suitable limits, the proportion of the fresh oxygensupply in each breathing cycle.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of feeding only a minorproportion of oxygen to the person in each breathing cycle in order toeconomize on the supply of oxygen as well as to better simulate normalbreathing conditions of air which contains only a minor proportion ofoxygen. Thus, the invention contemplates a breathing appliance which maytit only over the head of the user or which may form part of apressurized suit enclosing the entire body of the person if use is madeof the breathing apparatus at such altitudes where the protection of thebody against swelling is necessary. The breathing appliance is connectedto a storage chamber for the exhaled breath having a capacity forlimited adjustment. The breathing appliance is also connected to adouble-celled container having a pair of expansible and collapsiblechambers therein in the form of bellows devices, one of whichcommunicates with a fresh oxygen Supply as well as with the breathingappliance, while the other one communicates with the storage chamber forthe exhaled breath and with a vent to the exterior atmosphere. Valvemechanisms are associated with the conduits and the collapsible chambersand are operated automatically in accordance with the breathing cycle ofthe user so that at each inhalation of breath the user breathes inapproximately one-fifth of a breath of oxygen in conjunction withapproximately four-fifths of a previously exhaled breath, while duringexhalation approximately four-fifths of the breath is stored for re-usewhile one-tifth passes to one of the collapsible chambers for dischargeto the atmosphere in the course of the following exhalation cycle.

The collapsible chambers operate automatically to perform theirmeasuring, admission and exhaust operations in response to the suctionand pressure of the ICC breathing cycle of the user and the pressure ofthe oxygen supply.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description ofthe invention following hereinafter taken in conjunction with thedrawing, wherein is shown a layout of the apparatus with certain partsin section.

In the drawing is shown a breathing appliance H which may assume theform of a helmet adapted to be worn over the head of the user or whichmay form part of a pressurized suit completely enclosing the wearer, ifthe use of this apparatus is designed for extremely high alti tudeswhere such pressurized suits are required.

A double-celled container 1,v formed of any suitable material such asmetal, plastic or wood, is divided into two compartments 2 and3 with apressure equalization port 30 therebetween. A collapsible bellowschamber 4, extending from a casing 6, for receiving and measuring aminor proportion of the exhaled breath, is contained within thecompartment 2. The second collapsile bellows chamberV 5, extending froma casing 7, is disposed in compartment 3. The casing 6 is provided withmouth 8, and casing 7 `is provided with mouth 9, which open into thevalve housings V and V, respectively.

The pressurized helmet is provided with an oxygen breathing conduit 31which extends fromlits terminal 32 in the valve housing V to itsterminal 33 in the helmet whereat it is closed by a one-wayspring-biased flap valve 34. A breath conduit 35 Valso extends from theend 36 in the breathing helmet to a terminal 37 in the valve housing Vand is provided with the branch 38 leading to the exhaled breath storagechamber 40, as described in greater detail below. A conduit 4S, havingan end i9 disposed in valve housing V, discharges to atmosphere, asshown in the drawing. An oxygen supply tank T, operating at constantpressure independent of the altitude at which it isused, is connected bymeans of conduit 50 to the valve housing V at outlet 51. The supply ofoxygen and the regulated pressure thereof may be controlled by valve S2on the oxygen supply tank T.

A flap Valve 1t) is pivotally mounted in the valve housing V and isadapted to alternately cover the end 37 from the breath conduit 3S orthe end 49 of the conduit 48 which communicates with the atmosphere.Likewise, a ap valve 11 is pivotally mounted in valve housing V and isadapted to alternately close ot the end 51 of the oxygen conduit 5t) orthe end 32 of the oxygen breathing conduit 31 leading to the helmet.

A system of lever interconnections and linkages is pron vided to operatevalves 1t? and 11 conjointly and automatically in accordance with thebreathing cycle. This system comprises a longitudinally extending lever1d pivotally connected to an intermediate point of lever 12 supportingiiap valve 10, and lever 14 is in turn pivotally connected to one end oflever 18 which is supported y, pivotal mounting at an intermediate point20 thereof on post 16 provided on the external wall of the container l.The opposite end of thelever 18 is pivoted at 22 to lever 23 which isdisposed within compartment 3 of the container and extendslongitudinally thereof for a limited amount of travel in opening 25 ofguide lug 26 and through the opening 25 in the end wall of thecontainer.

` The opening 25' in the end of the container is sealed from theexterior by'a suitable sealing member 24, which permits the movement oflever 23.

In a manner similar to that described above, lever 15 is pivotallyconnected to lever 13 which supports the flap valve 11 in valve housingV. Lever 15 is also'connected to one end of lever 19, the opposite endof which is connected to lever 23 at point 22. The lever 19 is 70mounted for pivotal movement on post 17 at pivot point 21. v

The member 29 is mounted on the end wall of the bellows and is providedwith an opening 29 to permit member 29 to ride along longitudinallyextending lever 23 as the bellows S executes its collapsing andexpanding movements. The lever 23 is provided with stops or abutments 27and 28 at displaced points therealong, which are actuated by member 29near the end of the strokes of this member in opposite directions. Thus,when the bellows 5 is actuated in the direction of the arrow, that is,when the bellows is collapsed in response to the inhalation of breath bythe user, member 29 strikes member 27 and moves rod 23 therewith, whichin turn carries pivot 22 to the right to cause the valves l@ and 12 toassume positions indicated by the arrows conversely from that shown inthe drawing. Upon the reverse expanding movement of the bellows S, theend member 29 strikes the abutment 28 to move it into the position shownin the drawing, which causes the lever 23 to move to the left andthereby to actuate the apvalves l@ and ii into the positions occupied bythese valves as shown in the drawing.

As described above, the exhaled breath conduit 35 is provided with abranch pipe 38 which communicates with a flexible storage chamber 4Ghoused in casing lil. This storage chamber may be formed of any suitableexiblc material and has the volumetric capacity of a major proportion ofa breath, or more speciiically, approximately 80% thereof. The casing 41is provided with an adjustable wal .2 for the purpose of varying thevolumetric capacity oi the storage chamber 4@ in its fully expandedstate. This adjustment is made by means of a threaded bolt 43 which iseffective to move the wall 42 either inwardly, to reduce the capacity ofthe storage chamber di), or outwardly, to expand the capacity of thisstorage chamber A bellows seal 45 surrounds the `adjusting bolt 43 inall of its positions.

The conduits 3l, 35 and tl may be of flexible hose and preferably thecapacity of the bellows d and 5 approximates one-fifth of a breath whilethe exhaled breath storage chamber dit has a capacity of approximatelyfourtifths of a breath. It is understood that these specic percentagesmay be varied by adjusting the voiumetric capacities in accordance withspecic needs.

The apparatus specifically described above operates in the followingmanner:

in the position of the parts shown in the drawing, which represents thestart of the inhalation of a breath, the bellows chamber 5 is in itsfully expanded position and contains an amount of oxygen equivalent toapproximately one-fifth of a breath. The oxygen supply from tbe tank Tis cut oli by the closure of opening Si. by the valve 1l. Valve i@ invalve housing V closes the opening 37 leading from the breath storagechamber di?, which permits the exhaled breath content in bellows s tovent through ope; ng 49 in discharge conduit d3. Upon inhalation, thesuction exercised by the user opens liap valve 34 to admit the oxygencontained within the bellows 5 as the same collapses. At the same time80% of the previouslyl exhaled breath passes from storage chamber 4t?through conduits 3S and 3S through opening 36 inthe helmet for mixturewith the of oxygen to provide a comfortable and adequatelylife-sustaining breath.

Near the close of the inhalation cycle, member 29 of the bellows 5strikes abutment 27 to move lever 23 to the right, which rocks thevalves lit and ll into their converse positions. When this takes place,valve 18 closes opening 49 to enforce the exhalation of breath tostorage chamber 4i) and to bellows 4 in approximately the division oftheir respective volumetric capacities. Thereafter the bellows 4 expandsto accommodate approximately 20% of a breath, while storage chamber 4t!accommodates the remainder of the breath. in valve housing V', theClosure of opening 32 by valve 1l prevents the user from drawing oxygendirectly from the oxygen tank T and enforces the supply of oxygen to theinterior of the bellows 5 which expands to its position shown inthedrawing. Near the conclusion of the expansion movement of bellows 5,member 29 strikes abutment 28 to throw the valves 1Q, and 11 back to theposition shown iu the drawing in preparation for the next inhalationcycle.

The operation of the valves is executed automatically; by thereciprocating movements of the bellows 5 which` is in turn controlled bythe breathing cycles of the user.`

The component parts of the system are rugged and simple in constructionand are not subject to failure or faulty operation.

While i have described my invention as embodied in a specific form andas operating in a speciiic manner for purpose of illustration, it shouldbe understood that I donot limit my invention thereto, since variousmodiiications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout the volumetric capacity of a single breath, a storage chamberhaving the volumetric capacity of the major proportion of the volumetriccapacity of a single breath, a breathing conduit extending from saidbreathing appliance to said storage chamber and to one of saidcollapsible chambers, a vent to atmosphere connected to saidlast-mentioned collapsible chamber, valve means alternately closingcommunication from said last-mentioned collapsible chamber to saidbreathing conduit and to said v vent, an oxygen supply conduit connectedto the other one of said collapsible chambers, an oxygen breathingconduit extending from the latter to said breathing appliance, second`valve means alternately closing com'- munication from saidlast-mentioned collapsible cham? ber to said oxygen supply conduit andto said oxygen breathing conduit, and interconnections between saidvalve means for venting said mst-mentioned collapsible chamber toatmosphere and cutting ofi communication` between said secondcollapsible chamber and the oxygen supply conduit during inhalation ofbreath, and conversely operating said valve means during exhalation ofbreath.

2. VA respiratory apparatus utilizing oxygen while re` breathing aportion of previously exhaled air which comprises a breathing applianceapplied at least to the head Vof the breather, a pair of collapsiblebellows chambers eachhaving in its expanded state a capacity ofapproximately twenty percent of the volumetric capacity of a singlebreath, a storage chamber having the volumetric capacity ofapproximately eighty percent of the volu'A metric capacity of a singlebreath, a breathing conduit extending from said breathing appliance tosaid storage chamber and to one of said collapsible bellows chambers, avent to atmosphere connected to said last-men tioned collapsible bellowschamber, valve means alternatelyclosing communication from saidlastementioned collapsible bellows chamber to said breathing conduit.y'j and to said vent, an oxygen supply conduit connected to.

the other one of said collapsible Ybellows chambers, an oxygen breathingconduit extending from the latter,V to said breathing appliance, secondvalve means alternately closing communication from said last-mentionedcollapsible bellows chamber to said oxygen supply conduit and oxygenbreathing conduit, and interconnections bef tween said valve means forventing said first-mentioned collapsible bellows chamber to atmosphere,and cutting off communication between said second collapsible bellowschamber and the oxygen supply conduit during inhalation of breath, andconversely operating said valvei means during exhalation of breath. Y 3.An apparatus as set forth in claim Y2 wherein a housing isprovided forsaid .bellows chambers with a partition therebetween, said partitionhaving an opening therein to equalize the pressure on the outside ofsaid bellows chambers.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said storage chamber isformed of expansible material, a confining casing therefor, and anadjustable wall in said casing for varying the volumetric capacity ofsaid storage chamber in its expanded state.

5. A respiratory apparatus utilizing oxygen while rebreathing a portionof previously exhaled air which comprises a breathing appliance appliedto the head of the breather, a pair of collapsible chambers each havingin its expanded state a capacity of a minor proportion of the volumetriccapacity of a single breath, a storage chamber having the volumetriccapacity of the major proportion of the volumetric capacity of a singlebreath, a breathing conduit extending from said breathing appliance tosaid storage chamber and to one of said collapsible chambers, a vent toatmosphere connected to said lastmentioned collapsible chamber, valvemeans alternately closing communication from said last-mentionedcollapsible chamber to said Vbreathing conduit and to said vent, anoxygen supply conduit connected to the other one of said collapsiblechambers, an oxygen breathing conduit extending from the latter to saidbreathing appliance, second valve means alternately closingcommunication from said last-mentioned collapsible chamber to saidoxygen supply conduit and to said oxygen breathing conduit, leverinterconnections between said valve means for venting said rstmentionedcollapsible chamber to atmosphere and cutting off communication betweensaid second collapsible chamber and the oxygen supply conduit duringinhalation of breath, and conversely operating said valve means duringexhalation of breath, and means for operating said leverinterconnections by the alternating expanding and contracting movementsof one of said collapsible chambers.

6. A respiratory apparatus utilizing oxygen while rebreathing a portionof previously exhaled air which comprises a breathing appliance appliedat least to the head of the breather, a pair of collapsible bellowschambers each having in its expanded state a capacity of approximatelytwenty percent of the volumetric capacity of a single breath, a storagechamber having the volumetric capacity of approximately eighty percentof the volumetric capacity of a single breath, a breathing conduitextending from said breathing appliance to said storage chamber and toone of said collapsible bellows chambers, a vent to atmosphere connectedto said last-mentioned collapsible bellows chamber, valve meansalternately closing communication from said last-mentioned collapsiblebellows chamber to said breathing conduit and to said vent, an oxygensupply conduit connected to the other one of said collapsible bellowschambers, an oxygen .breathing conduit extending from the latter to saidbreathing appliance, second valve means alternately closingcommunication from said last-mentioned collapsible bellows chamber tosaid oxygen supply conduit and oxygen breathing conduit, leverinterconnections between said valve means for venting saidfirst-mentioned collapsible bellows chamber to atmosphere, and cuttingot communication between said second collapsible bellows chamber and theoxygen supply conduit during inhalation of breath, and converselyoperating said valve means during exhalation of breath, andautomatically operable means for operating said lever interconnectionsby the alternating expanding and contracting movements of the secondcollapsible bellows chamber which is connected to the oxygen supplyunder pressure controlled by the breathing cycles of the user.

7. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said leverinterconnections and last-mentioned means comprise pivoted leversconnected to each of said valve means,

and a common actuating rod therefor, abutments on saidY rod at displacedpoints therealong, and a member on said second collapsible bellowschamber for. striking said abutments near the limits of its travel ineachl direction for actuating said valve means to their alternatepositions.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentionedmember is mounted on the end wall of said second collapsible bellowschamber with an aperture therein to receive said common actuating rodfor relative movement thereon.

No references cited.

1. A RESPIRATORY APPARATUS UTILIZING OXYGEN WHILE REBREATHING A PORTION OF PREVIOUSLY EXHALED AIR WHICH COMPRISES A BREATHING APPLIANCE APPLIED TO THE HEAD OF THE BREATH, A PAIR OF COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBERS EACH HAVING IN ITS EXPANDED STATE A CAPACITY OF A MINOR PROPORTION OF THE VOLUMETRIC CAPACITY OF A SINGLE BREATH, A STORAGE CHAMBER HAVING THE VOLUMERTIC CAPACITY OF THE MAJOR PROPERTION OF THE VOLUMETRIC CAPACITY OF A SINGLE BREATH, A BREATHING CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM SAID BREATHING APPLIANCE TO SAID STORAGE CHAMBER AND TO ONE OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBERS, A VENT TO ATMOSPHERE CONNECTED TO SAID LAST-MENTIONED COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBER, VALVE MEANS ALTERNATELY CLOSING COMMUNICATION FROM SAID LAST-MENTIONED COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBER TO SAID BREATHING CONDUIT AND TO SAID VENT, AN OXYGEN SUPPLY CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBERS, AN OXYGEN BREATHING CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM THE LATTER TO SAID BREATHING APPLIANCE, SECOND VALVE MEANS ALTERNATELY CLOSING COMMUNICATION FROM SAID LAST-MENTIONED COLLAPSIBLE CHAM- 